Strategy for a statistical analysis of odour influence on the mammalian olfactory bulb responsiveness

This paper proposes a global strategy for statistical analysis of odour influence on the responsiveness of the mammalian olfactory bulb, the first relay of the olfactory pathway. Experiments were performed on 86 mitral cells recorded in 17 anaesthetized freely breathing rats. Five pure odours and their binary mixture were used. The spontaneous activity and odour-evoked responses of the cells were characterized by their temporal distribution of activity along the respiratory cycle, i.e. by cycle-triggered histograms. Several statistical analyses were performed to describe the influence of binary odour mixtures and, especially, to detect a possible dominance of one component of the mixture.     

On the probabilities of correct or incorrect majority preference relations

While majority cycles may pose a threat to democratic decision making, actual decisions based inadvertently upon an incorrect majority preference relation may be far more expensive to society. We study majority rule both in a statistical sampling and a Bayesian inference framework. Based on any given paired comparison probabilities or ranking probabilities in a population (i.e., culture) of reference, we derive upper and lower bounds on the probability of a correct or incorrect majority social welfare relation in a random sample (with replacement). We also present upper and lower bounds on the probabilities of majority preference relations in the population given a sample, using Bayesian updating. These bounds permit to map quite precisely the entire picture of possible majority preference relations as well as their probabilities. We illustrate our results using survey data. Received: 13 November 2000/Accepted: 19 March 2002 This collaborative work was carried out while Regenwetter was a faculty member at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University. We thank Fuqua for sponsoring our collaboration and the National Science Foundation for grant SBR-97-30076 to Michel Regenwetter. We are indebted to the editor and the referees, as well as to Jim Adams, Bob Clemen, Bernie Grofman, Bob Nau, Saša Pekeč, Jim Smith and Bob Winkler for helpful comments and suggestions.     

The extent of labour specialization in the extended family: A theoretical and empirical analysis

In this paper we present a simple model of labour supply that is cast within the framework of an extended family. The model emphasizes a Ricardian division of labour whereby the specialization is solely driven by marginal productivity and value of time differentials. The empirical implications of the model are derived and tested using data that was collected in France to study the extent of trade within the family network. We find evidence that the extent of specialization is sensitive to the value of time differentials. Received: 17 May 1995 / Accepted: 20 February 1997     

Personnel planning and information systems

Today the need for long-range planning is seen by most private and public organizations. Therefore growing attention to it is required of management in companies, in public services, in the armed services and in the school and university area. Some parts of the long-range planning problems have been widely discussed and practised. But there are some parts, which have received less attention in the business world. One of the relatively neglected areas, but one of special importance is long-range planning for personnel from the shop-floor up to top-management. This lack is remarkable, as one finds a lot of research and practical work on the use of other operations research planning systems, which cover for example queueing, inventory, production or investment problems. But in no field, is planning ahead more important than in personnel. Company growth and effectiveness depend on it. For unless a business organization has people with skill, imagination and a capacity for leadership, at the right time, its other plans may well be worthless.     

Mapping Swedish Females' Educational Pathways in Terms of Academic Competence and Adjustment Problems

Patterns of academic competence, externalizing problems, and internalizing problems were examined in females from the longitudinal Individual Development and Adaptation (IDA) program in order to understand unexpected patterns of educational attainment and problems in adulthood. Person-oriented methods were used to identify patterns of competence and problems at ages 10, 13, and 43. These patterns were linked across time to reveal expected and unexpected educational pathways from childhood to adulthood. Most later patterns were consistent with earlier patterns of competence and problems. This structural-level stability supported our hypothesis that competence and problems tend to be inversely related and function together over time as integrated systems. We focus on one unexpected educational pathway characterized by individuals whose problems remain low over time despite stable levels of low competence. This unexpected educational pathway was examined further in terms of optimal versus general adjustment consequences in adulthood. Some policy implications of studying individual patterns and pathways are discussed .     

Creative crisis: New patterns of growth and employment

Unemployment as a factor of economic and social life is likely to be with us for some time, and may well double within the next few years. The author makes a critical review of the traditional remedies and suggests ways in which the situation might be alleviated or dealt with in a positive fashion.Resignation in the face of the crisis will only lead to new crises. Proposals for new patterns of growth are suggested and a new attitude to planning within the situation.     

Mean utility preserving increases in risk for state dependent utility functions

This paper defines the concept of a mean utility preserving spread across states (MUPSAS) for state dependent utility functions and analyzes the behavioural impact of shifts in the probability distribution of wealth across states such that overall mean utility is preserved. The main result provides an alternative way of ranking state dependent utility functions according to their degree of risk aversion (thus extending Kami's theorem of comparative risk aversion) and establishes a link between increases in risk and risk aversion for state dependent preferences. In a portfolio problem where preferences and the rate of return of the risky venture are state dependent, we find sufficient conditions to determine the impact of a MUPSAS on the optimal share of the portfolio invested in the risky asset.

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The (ab)sense of a concept of social support in parenting research: a social work perspective

Social support, as a complex, dynamic and multidimensional concept, has been studied extensively. However, a review of research publications on social support and parenting reveals that social work perspectives on social support are underdeveloped in the Social Sciences Citation Index. Social support is predominantly studied in relation to parental health, considering social support as a buffer against potential negative outcomes for children. This, in turn, legitimates extensive research on parents ‘at risk’. Specific target groups have been questioned abundantly using social support measures, mainly consisting of self‐reports. We conclude that social support is studied as a predefined concept, lacking conceptualizations that encompass the actual enacted support in relation to the perspectives of both givers and receivers of support. Moreover, the focus on targeted groups ignores the experience of social support in more diverse populations in general services and in everyday life. Issues of reciprocity, diversity and multivocality are central to our appeal for social work perspectives truly encompassing the relational aspect of social support. The question whether, and to what extent, social workers (including practitioners, policy‐makers and researchers) should give attention to this relational aspect is discussed.